In a recent turn of events, Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has applied to withdraw from Cyprus, as recorded by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission. This move comes just before the European Union’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) legislation introduction, scheduled for 2022. The legislation, designed for entities engaging in the issuance, offering, and trading of crypto-assets or related services within the Union, is going to enforce stricter rules, such as on stablecoins and the implementation of new anti-money laundering (AML) and data security measures.
Although the reasons for Binance’s deregistration have not been explicitly stated, the company informed Decrypt that it is redirecting its focus to fewer regulated entities in the E.U., primarily targeting their established presence in countries like France, Italy, and Spain. Binance expressed its intentions to align its business with the MiCA, ensuring complete compliance within the next 18 months.
Cyprus is now excluded from the list of over 100 countries where Binance claims to have its services. Earlier this month, Binance announced its departure from Canada due to new guidance regarding stablecoins and investor limits, followed by an investigation initiated by Canada’s Ontario Securities Commission.
Moreover, Binance has been facing an increasing number of regulatory issues as of late. Recently, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued the company on 13 counts, including operating unregistered exchanges, broker-dealers, and clearing agencies; misrepresenting trading controls and oversight on the Binance US platform; and the unregistered offer and sale of securities.
The lawsuit against Binance coincides with tightened regulations on the cryptocurrency industry in the United States. This year, major digital asset exchanges like Kraken, Coinbase, and Gemini have faced fines and lawsuits. The SEC’s complaint against Binance is particularly severe, accusing the company, led by CEO Changpeng Zhao, of running a “web of deception” and commingling customer funds.
As the situation unfolds, Binance has employed a high-powered legal team, including an ex-SEC lawyer, to combat the allegations made by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Overall, as tighter regulations are implemented in various jurisdictions, the challenges faced by Binance may serve as a wakeup call for other crypto exchanges. This may lead to more players in the industry focusing on attaining regulatory compliance and could potentially shape the future landscape of blockchain and cryptocurrency.
Source: Decrypt
